Slatwall display system

ABSTRACT

A slatwall display system is provided for retaining at least one article holder thereon. The system includes a mounting member having a series of spaced projecting ears formed with upwardly projecting surfaces defining slat panel supports. The system further includes a multiplicity of slat panels interconnected together, one on top of another, at spaced slatwall panel joints to define a slat panel assembly. Each of the slat panels has a plurality of coplanar forward wall portions, a plurality of coplanar rearward wall portions spaced rearwardly of the forward wall portions, and a plurality of central wall portions joining the forward wall and rearward wall portions. The rearward wall portions are separated from each other by projecting ear recesses formed between the forward wall and rearward wall portions. The projecting ear recesses include a series of spaced, inverted, generally V-shaped notches receiving the upwardly projecting surfaces of the projecting ears.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to display arrangements and,more particularly, pertains to slat panels adapted to interlock with oneanother to form a modular slatwall panel assembly which is secured on awall-mounted vertical support and is utilized to support and displayvarious articles therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Slatwalls have a front surface formed by horizontally elongated frontmembers separated by horizontally elongated grooves. The grooves receivearticle holders, such as shelves, trays, brackets, and the like which,in turn, display and support a variety of articles. Slatwalls have beenused extensively for wall displays in merchandising and retailapplications because of the versatility they offer as far as placementof the article holders thereon. More recently, slatwalls have been foundto be extremely desirable in commercial applications such as in theoffice and workplace, as well as in consumer applications in the homeand school.

Typically, slatwalls are formed with horizontally elongated slatwallsections or slat panels that are interlocked with similar upper andlower slat panels to form a slat panel assembly. Generally, the upperand lower ends of each slat panel have edge structure which cooperateswith those of vertically adjacent sections to secure the slat panelstogether at slatwall panel joints. One or more slat panels are supporteddirectly on a vertical wall or a mounting member fixed to the wall todefine a slatwall display system. It is necessary that the cooperatingengagement between vertically adjacent slat panels be designed such thatthe finished assembly is sturdy. In addition, the spacing between thefront members of the slat panels should be consistent to present anaesthetically pleasing appearance of the slatwall. Further, the groovesin the slat panels should be formed to promote stable engagement betweenthe slat panel assembly and the article holders that are supportedthereon by the forming walls of the grooves. Moreover, the slat panelassembly and the mounting member should be provided with matingstructure to securely mount the slat panel assembly to a vertical wall.

While some attempts have been made to produce slat panels from metal andplastic, the most widely used materials for the manufacturing ofslatwall display are fiberboard (MDF, HDF), particle board (HDP),plywood and other wood-like sheet materials. Uniqueness or customizationis supplied through surface applications including paint, high and lowpressure laminates, transfer foils, wood veneers, mirrors, etc.Generally, wood-like panels measuring four feet in width, eight feet inlength and 3/4 inch in thickness are employed. Parallel grooves arerouted or milled across the width of the panels and are spaced on equalcenters over the surface. The routed grooves or slots form a femalereceptacle for accommodating article holders having connectingstructures so that they can be supported in a cantilevered fashion. Theslots are generally L-shaped or T-shaped in cross-section and areuniformly sized to accept an array of article holders and accessoriessuch as shelves, brackets, baskets, trays, hooks, racks and lights.

Despite its widespread use and ability to offer customized servicetreatment, these wood-like panels have several limitations. The panelsare heavy and fragile, and do not cut, fabricate or finish well. Thosefamiliar with the products are aware that the constitution offiberboard, particle board and other wooden panels is extremely brittleand rigid. As a result of its makeup, the grooves cut into the panelmust often be reinforced by inserts. Coupled with its large size andheavy weight, the panel is awkward to ship, handle and install. Thepanel also lacks strength and when damaged, is unsightly and difficultto repair. A further drawback encountered in the use of such moisturepermeable panels is the effect of warpage which can occur when thepanels are subjected to varying environmental changes, are processedwith certain surface coatings or are sanitized using liquid cleaners.

Notwithstanding the slatwall arrangements described above, it remainsdesirable to provide a slatwall display system which retains thepositive structural and functional characteristics of prior art slatwalldesign and simultaneously eliminates the negative factors. It isdesirable to provide a slatwall display system which is lightweight yetextremely durable, priced competitively and usable in a variety ofvarious environments. It is also desirable to provide a slatwall displaysystem having a mounting member and a plurality of interconnected,juxtaposed slat panels capable of sustaining a high degree of verticalloading. Further, it is desirable to provide a slatwall display systemwhich is easier and less expensive to ship, install and handle.Likewise, it is desirable to provide a slatwall panel having forwardfacing structure for supporting various article holders and rearwardfacing structure for securely mounting the panel on a wall support.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously resides in an improved and highlyversatile display system of the slatwall-type which offers superiorquality, durability, strength, flexibility, handling and maintenance.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a pluralityof slat panels which may be interlocked together to form a display whichis attractive in appearance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a slat paneldisplay which is easily, yet securely mounted to a vertical wallsupport.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide aslatwall display system which is strong enough to support a variety ofarticle holders therefrom in a cantilevered fashion.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an expandableslatwall display system formed of extruded polyvinylchloride (PVC) whichis much less fragile than fiberboard, is relatively lightweight and isimpervious to moisture.

Still another further object of the present invention is to provide aslatwall display system having slat panel joints which make installationeasier and create article holder recesses without the need forreinforcing inserts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slatwall displaysystem having a potential in a wide range of markets associated withcommercial, industrial, institutional, office, workplace, residentialand trade show applications.

In one aspect of the invention, a slatwall display system is providedfor retaining at least one article holder thereon. The system includes amounting member having a series of spaced projecting ears formed withupwardly projecting surfaces defining slat panel supports. Amultiplicity of slat panels is interconnected together, one on top ofthe other, at spaced slatwall panel joints to define a slat panelassembly. Each of the slat panels has a plurality of forward wallportions, a plurality of rearward wall portions spaced rearwardly of theforward wall portions, and a plurality of central wall portions joiningthe forward wall and rearward wall portions. The rearward wall portionsare separated from each other by projecting ear recesses formed betweenthe forward wall and the rearward wall portions. The projecting earrecesses include a series of spaced, inverted, generally V-shapednotches receiving the upwardly projecting surfaces of the projectingears to support the slat panels on the mounting member.

Each slatwall joined is preferably located between an adjacent pair ofthe inverted, V-shaped notches. The forward wall portions are separatedfrom each other by forwardly opening article holder recesses formedbetween the forward wall and the rearward wall portions for receiving atleast one article holder therein. Each slat panel includes an upper edgeand a lower edge, one of the edges being provided with a groove andanother of the edges being provided with a tongue dimensioned andoriented to be accommodated in the groove of another slat panel toretain the slat panels together. The uppermost edges cooperate togetherat the slatwall panel joint to define another article holder recess. Thegroove is formed by the rearward wall portion and the forward wallportion, and the tongue is engageable substantially against the rearwardwall portion only. In a preferred embodiment, the upper edge on theuppermost slat panel of the slat panel assembly is secured to avertically extending wall to which the mounting member is attached. Theupper edge of the uppermost slat panel is provided with the groove andis secured to the vertically extending wall by a decorative trim memberhaving a tongue which is received in the groove, a vertical backbonewhich is bonded to the vertically extending wall, and an upwardly andoutwardly extending brace which is engageable with a ceiling lyingperpendicular to the vertically extending wall. In an alternative formof the invention, the upper edge of the uppermost slat panel is securedto the vertically extending wall by a fastener.

In the preferred embodiment, the projecting ear on the mounting memberincludes an upper portion which is substantially triangular incross-section. The projecting ear on the mounting member includes alower portion which is substantially square or substantially triangularin cross-section. In the alternative form of the invention, theprojecting ear on the mounting member includes an upper portion whichextends upwardly and outwardly, then vertically. The projecting ear onthe mounting member has a lower portion which is formed from the upperportion and extends outwardly then upwardly. The upper and lowerportions define a raceway for holding at least one utility conductor,while each projecting ear is engaged in its respective inverted V-shapednotch. Each article holder recess is generally L-shaped or reverselyJ-shaped in cross-section. The rearward wall portion is provided with akeeper which is biased forwardly or rearwardly into one of the articleholder recesses. In a preferred embodiment, the rearward wall portion ofthe slat panel is bonded to the mounting member. In an alternative formof the invention, each alternating projecting ear recess defines araceway for holding at least one utility conductor. In the preferredembodiment, each projecting ear and projecting ear recess defines araceway for holding at least one utility conductor. The article holdertakes the form of a shelf, a bracket, a hanger, or the like. In thepreferred embodiment, the mounting members and the slatwall panels areconstructed of extruded PVC material, while in the alternative form themounting member may be constructed of metal. Both the forward wallportions and the rearward wall portions are coplanar. In the preferredembodiment, each of the projecting ears completely fills its inverted,V-shaped notch, while in the alternative form of the invention each ofthe projecting ears partially fills its inverted, V-shaped notch.

In another aspect of the invention, a slatwall panel is provided for usein a slat panel assembly. A body has a plurality of coplanar forwardwall portions, a plurality of coplanar rearward wall portions spacedrearwardly of the forward wall portions, a plurality of central wallportions joining the forward wall and rearward wall portions, an upperedge and a lower edge. The upper edge includes a vertically extendingtongue offset from one of the rearward wall portions, and a forwardlyprojecting portion terminating in the forward wall portion. The loweredge includes a groove cut into one of the central wall portions betweenone of the rearward wall portions and one of the forward wall portions,the upper edge tongue being received in the lower edge groove of anadjacent body and engageable against its rearward wall portion only toform a slat panel joint. The unoccupied walls of the groove, a bottom ofthe forward wall portion on the adjacent body, the tongue and theforwardly projecting portion define a first forwardly opening articleholder recess for accommodating an article holder therein. Adjacentforward wall portions are separated by a plurality of secondforwardly-opening article holder recesses lying between the upper edgeand the lower edge on each body. Adjacent rearward wall portions areseparated by projecting ear recesses formed between the forward wall andrearward wall portions. The projecting ear recesses include a series ofspaced, inverted, generally V-shaped notches receiving mating projectingears formed on a rigidly anchored mounting member, the inverted,V-shaped notch being spaced from the slat panel joint. The bodies areformed with a plurality of material-saving voids, each void beinglocated above one of the inverted, V-shaped notches. Each of the articleholder recesses is L-shaped, while each of the grooves has an invertedU-shape.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a slatwall display system has amounting member provided with projecting structure for mounting a seriesof slat panels together at slat panel joints, one atop the other. Theimprovement resides in the slat panels being supported on the projectingstructure of the mounting member at locations spaced from the slat paneljoints.

Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will bemade apparent from the following description taken together with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carryingout the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a slatwall display system forsupporting several article holders in accordance with the presentinvention, the upper portion of the display system being broken away topermit underlying components to be seen;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the top portion of theslatwall display system showing a decorative trim member interposedbetween a ceiling and a wall on which the display system is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG.2 showing the manner in which the decorative trim member is installed tosecure the upper portion of the display system to the wall;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, butshowing an alternative arrangement for securing the display system tothe wall;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded view of several components of thedisplay system seen in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG.1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG.1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the mounting member used in the displaysystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the display systemforming raceways for holding a plurality of conductors;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the display systemshown in FIGS. 3--9 illustrating the shape of a projecting ear on themounting member;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, but showing the shape of a firstalternative projecting ear;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11, but showing the shape of a secondalternative projecting ear;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a slatwallpanel joint formed by upper and lower portions of slat panels as shownin FIG. 5, the upper and lower portions of slatwall being fixed to themounting member by a bonding agent;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the display systemshown in FIG. 5, illustrating an additional article holder retained in aradiused, reversely J-shaped article holder recess;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the displaysystem showing an alternative L-shaped article holder recess providedwith a rear keeper;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16, but showing a L-shaped articleholder recess provided with a front keeper;

FIG. 18 this a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a display systememploying a mounting member having a first alternative projecting ear;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the mounting member shownin FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but showing a mounting memberprovided with a second alternative projecting ear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 generally identifiesthe slatwall display system constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the invention for supporting and displaying various typesof article holders 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 from a front side thereof.With additional reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, system 10 is comprised of aseries of horizontally disposed, generally rectangular slat panels 12juxtaposed and interconnected together, one atop the other, at slatwallpanel joints 26 (FIG. 5) to form a slat panel assembly 28. The slatpanel assembly 28 is supported on a set of vertically extending mountingmembers 30 rigidly anchored to a vertical wall 32. Both slat panels 12and mounting members 30 are substantially rigid elements and arepreferably formed of extruded polyvinylchloride (PVC). An elongated,U-shaped finished cap 34 is provided to conceal the exposed side edgesof the slat panel assembly 28. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, itcan be seen that the slat panel assembly 28 extends lengthwise from aceiling 36 which is perpendicular to the wall 32 downwardly andcompletely to a floor 38. The slat panel assembly 28 also extendswidthwise from one adjoining vertical wall 40 to another adjoiningvertical wall 42. It should be appreciated from the outset of thisdescription that the slat panel assembly 28 could also be mounted on afree-standing vertical wall which could carry the slat panels on one orboth sides thereof as desired by the user. Likewise, it should beunderstood that while the article holders 14-24 are preferably shown asshelves and a hanger, the slatwall panel assembly 28 is equally capableof supporting other article holders such as baskets, trays, brackets,lights, etc.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a decorative trim member 44 is interposedbetween the wall 32 and the ceiling 36 to fix the uppermost slat panel12 and the uppermost mounting member 30 to the wall 32 withoutconventional fasteners. A vertically extending tongue 46 on the upperedge 47 of the uppermost slat panel 12 and the uppermost edge 47 of theuppermost mounting member 30 together form a channel 48, and are securedto the wall 32 by a trim member tongue 50 which depends downwardly andis received in the channel 48. The trim member 44 further includes avertical backbone 52 which is bonded such as by an adhesive 54 to thewall 32, and an upwardly and extending brace 56 which is engageable withthe ceiling 36. The phantom lines of FIG. 3 illustrate the initialdisposition of the trim member 44. Once the tongue 50 has been locatedin the channel 48 between the front side of the mounting member 30 andthe rear side of tongue 46, trim member 44 is pivoted upwardly andinwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3 until thebackbone 52 is bonded to the wall 32 and the brace 56 contacts thebottom of the ceiling 36.

In the event a more conventional fastening of the upper portion of theslatwall 12 and the mounting member 30 is desired, the upper edges ofthese two components are aligned, a rubber seal 58 or the like isdisposed in the channel 48 and the screw 60 is threaded into a holeformed in tongue 46, seal 58, mounting member 30 and wall 32, asdepicted in FIG. 4.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, each slat panel is comprised of a body 62having a plurality of coplanar forward wall portions 64, a plurality ofcoplanar rearward wall portions 66 spaced rearwardly of the forward wallportions 64, and a plurality of central wall portions 68 joining theforward wall and rearward wall portion 64, 66. Each slat panel 12 alsohas a lower edge 70 in addition to the upper edge 47 introduced above.The tongue 46 on upper edge 47 is offset from the rearward wall portion66 and extends downwardly to intersect with a forwardly projectingportion 72 terminating at the forward wall portion 64. The lower edge 70is provided with an inverted, U-shaped groove 74 cut into the centralwall portion 68 between the lowermost forward wall portion 64 and thelowermost rearward wall portion 66. Upper edge tongue 46 is dimensionedand oriented to be accommodated in groove 74 of an adjoining slat panellower edge 70 to retain the slat panel set 12 together in slatwall paneljoint 26 (FIG. 5). However, it should be appreciated that tongue 46 isonly engageable with rearward wall portion 66 along its inner face 76(FIG. 6), and with central portion 68 along its uppermost end 78.

When adjacent slat panels 12 are held together at joint 26, a first,forwardly opening, L-shaped article holder recess 80 (FIG. 5) is formedby the unoccupied walls of groove 74, a bottom of the forward wallportion 64 on the adjacent body 62, the tongue 46 and the forwardlyprojecting portion 72. The offset tongue 46 cooperates with the forwardwall portion 64 to form a substantially moisture proof seal whichprevents any moisture introduced into recess 80, such as byenvironmental conditions, cleaning fluid or the like, from reachingmounting member 30. It should also be noted that the L-shaped recess 80has a vertical leg portion which opens through the forward wall portion64. This design enables any moisture extant in the recess 80 to bepulled down by gravity and led away from the slat panel 12. The forwardwall portions 64 are separated from each other by additional forwardlyopening, L-shaped article holding recesses 80a formed between theforward wall and rearward wall portion 64, 66. The rearward wall portion66 are separated from each other by projecting ear recesses 82 formedbetween the forward wall and rearward wall portions 64, 66. Theprojecting ear recesses 82 include a series of spaced, inverted,generally V-shaped notches 84 which cooperate with mating structure onthe mounting members 30 as will be described below. The central wallportions 68 are molded with material saving voids 86 located above andbelow the L-shaped article holder recesses 80, 80a.

With additional attention to FIG. 9, each mounting member 30 has aplanar base 87 formed with a series of aligned holes 88 through whichsuitable fasteners (not shown) are passed to rigidly anchor eachmounting member 30 to the wall 32. As also seen in FIG. 5, each mountingmember 30 has cooperating upper and lower beveled edges 90, 92 whichpermit two or more mounting members 30 to be mounted one atop the other.Spaced equidistantly along the length of the mounting member 30 is aseries of forwardly projecting ears 94 which completely fill the notches84. The ears 94 are formed with upwardly projecting surfaces 96 whichare matingly received in the inverted V-shaped notches 94 on slat panelassembly 28 and thereby function as slat panel supports.

FIGS. 1, 5, 7 and 8 demonstrate how variously-shaped article holders 14,16, 18, 20 and 22 are frictionally retained in L-shaped article holderrecesses 80 and 80a. In FIG. 5, a flat shelf 18 has an upper mountingsegment 18a which bears against the rear face of forward wall portion64, and a depending lower mounting segment 18b which bears directlyagainst the forward wall portion 64. Shelf 18 is reinforced by twolayers 18c and 18d of material and includes a series of material savingvoids 18e. Hanger 22 includes a pair of projecting fingers 23 having anupper mounting segment 23a which bears against the rear face of forwardwall portion 64, and a lower mounting segment 23b which rests directlyon forward wall portion 64.

In FIG. 7, a curved shelf 16 has an upper mounting segment 16a disposedbetween forward wall and rearward wall portions 64, 66 respectfully, anda lower mounting segment 16b resting on forward wall portion 64. In FIG.8, a substantially flat shelf 14 has identical structure on forward andrearward ends. Upper and lower mounting segments 14a, 14b are mounted asin FIG. 7. Another substantially flat shelf 20 has upper and lowermounting segments 20a, 20b similar to shelf 14 described above. Shelf 20is reinforced with two layers 20c and 20d of material and includes aseries of material saving voids 20e.

In FIG. 1, shelf 24 is comprised of a substantially rectangular topmember 24 and a pair of substantially trapezoidal side braces 24b, 24c.Member 24a and braces 24b and 24c have similar mounting segments asdescribed above in connection with shelves 14, 16, 18 and 20.

FIG. 10 sets forth the slatwall display system 10 in which projectingears 94 are spaced such that each alternating projecting ear recess 82defines a raceway for holding at least one and preferably severalutility conductors C such as phone or electric lines.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 11, the projecting ear 94 has anupper portion 98 which is substantially triangular in cross section, anda lower portion 100 which is substantially square in cross section. FIG.12 shows a first alternative projecting ear 94' having differentproportions than the projecting ear 94 but still exhibiting an uppertriangular portion 98' and a lower square portion 100'. FIG. 13 showsthe shape of a second alternative projecting ear 94" having asubstantially triangular upper portion 98" and is substantiallytriangular lower portion 100".

FIG. 14 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view of aslatwall panel joint 26' in which the slat panel lower edge 70' isdesigned with a narrower groove 74' which is substantially the thicknessof the tongue 76'. In addition, the rearward wall portions 66 onrespective upper and lower edges 47, 70 are secured to wall 32 withadhesive 54. This design not only strengthens the attachment ofadjoining slat panels 12' in the vicinity of the joint 26', but furtherenhances the sealing capability provided by the tongue 76' and groove74'.

FIG. 15 portrays a slat panel 12" in which the wall of the articleholder recess 80' is radiused along one side to form a reverselyJ-shaped opening for frictionally receiving the mating curved end 102 ofa horizontally disposed shelf 20'.

FIG. 16 discloses the L-shaped article holder recess 80" in whichrearward wall portion 66 is integrally formed with a keeper 104 biasedforwardly so that the attachment end of an article holder has a upperend 14a sandwiched between the keeper 104 and the forward wall portion64 and the lower end 14b resting upon forward wall portion 64. FIG. 17is similar to FIG. 16, but has a rearwardly biased keeper 104'integrally formed on forward wall portion 64.

FIG. 18 depicts a slatwall display system 10' employing an alternativemounting member 30' (FIG. 19) having an upper portion 106 which extendsoutwardly and upwardly then vertically to partially fill the invertedV-shaped notch 84. Mounting member 30' also includes a lower portion 108which is formed from the upper portion 106 and terminates in an upwardlyturned finger 110 for cradling at least one utility conductor C passedthrough the projecting ear recess 82. FIG. 20 resembles a slatwalldisplay system 10' except for the curved segment on upper portion 106'which allows a multiple number of conductors C to be supported by finger110.

In use, one or more mounting members 30 are rigidly fixed to thevertical wall 32 as shown in FIG. 1 using fasteners or adhesive (notshown). Starting from the bottom of the mounting members 30, a slatpanel 12 is supported on mounting member 30, by the cooperation ofprojecting ears 94, 94', 94" in inverted V-shaped notches 84. Next,another slat panel 12 is positioned on top of the bottommost slat panel12 so that the slat panel upper edge tongue 76 or 76' cooperates withslat panel lower edge groove 74 or 74' as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 14,respectively. This process is repeated until the desired height of thedisplay system 10, 10' is reached on the wall 32. At this point, theslat panel assembly 28 and mounting member 30, are fastened to the wall32 such as by fasteners 60 as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, if theinterlock slat panels 12 run substantially the entire height of the wall32, the decorative trim member 44 is installed between the wall and theceiling 36 as shown in FIG. 2 and described above. One or more finishedcaps 34 may be installed on any exposed side edges of the slatwall panelassembly 28. Once the display system is in place, article holders 14-22are easily and positively secured by placing the mounting end of eacharticle holder 14-22 in the article holder recess 80 or 80a with eacharticle holder tipped slightly upwardly and then pivoted downwardly towedge the mounting end into frictional engagement with the walls of therecess 80 or 80a. The installation procedure for alternative mountingmember 30' is similar as for mounting member 30.

It should be appreciated that the present invention provides a slatwalldisplay system in which the V-shaped notches on the slatwall panelassembly cooperate with the projecting ears to form an extremelyeffective anchor for supporting and displaying a myriad of articleholders therefrom. It should also be appreciated that the slat paneldisplay system permits the use of mounting members havingvariously-shaped projecting ears. In addition, the slatwall displaysystem creates slatwall panel joints which are substantially sealedagainst moisture and the like. The slat panels and the mounting membersdefining the slatwall display system are lightweight and easily handledand installed, yet are extremely strong and durable.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certainsubstitutions, alterations, and omissions may be made without departingfrom the spirit thereof. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meantto be exemplary only, and should not be deemed limitative on the scopeof the invention as set in the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A slatwall display system for retaining at least onearticle holder thereon, the system comprising:at least one mountingmember having a projecting ear formed with an upwardly projectingsurface; a multiplicity of slat panels interconnected together, one ontop of another at spaced slatwall panel joints to define a slat panelassembly, each of the slat panels having a plurality of forward wallportions, a plurality of rearward wall portions spaced rearwardly of theforward wall portions, and a plurality of central wall portions joiningthe forward wall and rearward wall portions, the rearward wall portionsbeing separated from each other by projecting ear recesses formedbetween the forward wall and rearward wall portions, the projecting earrecesses including a series of spaced, inverted, generally V-shapednotches receiving the upwardly projecting surface of the projecting earto retain the slat panels on the mounting member.
 2. The slatwalldisplay system of claim 1, wherein each slatwall joint panel is locatedbetween an adjacent pair of the inverted, V-shaped notches.
 3. Theslatwall display system of claim 1 wherein the forward wall portions areseparated from each other by forwardly opening article holder recessesformed between the forward wall and rearward wall portions for receivingat least one article holder therein.
 4. The slatwall display system ofclaim 1, wherein each slat panel includes an upper edge and a loweredge, one of the edges being provided with a groove and another of theedges being provided with a tongue dimensioned and oriented to beaccommodated in the groove of another slat panel to retain the slatpanels together, the upper and lower edges cooperating together at aslatwall panel joint to define another article holder recess.
 5. Theslatwall display system of claim 4, wherein the groove is formed by therearward wall portion and the forward wall portion, and the tongue isengageable substantially against the rearward wall portion only.
 6. Theslatwall display system of claim 4, wherein the upper edge on theuppermost slat panel in the slat panel assembly and an upper edge of theuppermost mounting member are secured to a vertically extending wall towhich the mounting member is attached.
 7. The slatwall display system ofclaim 4, wherein the upper edge of the uppermost slat panel and an upperedge of the uppermost mounting member are secured to a verticallyextending wall by a fastener.
 8. The slatwall display system of claim 6,wherein the upper edge of the uppermost slat panel and the upper edge ofthe uppermost mounting member form a groove and are secured to thevertically extending wall by a decorative trim member having a tonguewhich is received in the groove, a vertical backbone which is bonded tothe vertically extending wall, and an upwardly and outwardly extendingbrace which is engageable with a ceiling lying perpendicular to thevertically extending wall.
 9. The slatwall display system of claim 1,wherein the projecting ear on the mounting member includes an upperportion which is substantially triangular in cross section.
 10. Theslatwall display system of claim 1, wherein the projecting ear on themounting member includes a lower portion which is substantially squarein cross section.
 11. The slatwall display system of claim 1, whereinthe projecting ear on the mounting member includes a lower portion whichis substantially triangular in cross section.
 12. The slatwall displaysystem of claim 1, wherein the projecting ear on the mounting memberincludes an upper portion which extends outwardly and upwardly, thanvertically.
 13. The slatwall display system of claim 12, wherein theprojecting ear on the mounting member has a lower portion which isformed from the upper portion and extends outwardly, then upwardly. 14.The slatwall display system of claim 13, wherein the upper and lowerportions define a raceway for holding at least one utility conductorwhile each projecting ear is engaged in its respective inverted V-shapednotch.
 15. The slatwall display system of claim 3, wherein each articleholder recess is generally L-shaped in cross section.
 16. The slatwalldisplay system of claim 15, wherein the rearward wall portion isprovided with a keeper biased forwardly into one of the article holderrecesses.
 17. The slatwall display system of claim 15, wherein theforward wall portion is provided with a keeper biased rearwardly intoone of the article holder recesses.
 18. The slatwall display system ofclaim 3, wherein the article holder recess is generally reverselyJ-shaped in cross section.
 19. The slatwall display system of claim 1,wherein the rearward wall portion of the slat panel is bonded to themounting member.
 20. The slatwall display system of claim 1, whereineach alternating projecting ear recess defines a raceway for holding atleast one utility conductor.
 21. The slatwall display system of claim 1,wherein each projecting ear and projecting ear recess define a racewayfor holding at least one utility conductor.
 22. The slatwall displaysystem of claim 1, wherein the article holder is selected from the groupconsisting of shelves, brackets, and rods.
 23. The slatwall displaysystem of claim 1, wherein the mounting member and the slatwall panelsare constructed of extruded PVC material.
 24. The slatwall displaysystem of claim 1, wherein the mounting member is constructed of metal.25. The slatwall display system of claim 1, wherein the forward wallportions are coplanar.
 26. The slatwall display system of claim 1,wherein the rearward wall portions are coplanar.
 27. The slatwalldisplay system of claim 1, wherein each of the projecting earscompletely fills its inverted, V-shaped notch.
 28. The slatwall displaysystem of claim 1, wherein each of the projecting ears partially fillsits inverted, V-shaped notch.
 29. A slatwall panel for use in a slatpanel assembly comprising:a body having a plurality of coplanar forwardwall portions, a plurality of coplanar rearward wall portions spacedrearwardly of the forward wall portions, a plurality of central wallportions joining the forward wall and rearward wall portions, an upperedge and a lower edge, the upper edge including a vertically extendingtongue offset from one of the rearward wall portions, and a forwardlyprojecting portion terminating at the forward wall portion, the loweredge including a groove cut into one of the central wall portionsbetween one of the rearward wall portions and one of the forward wallportions, the upper edge tongue being received in the lower edge grooveof an adjacent body and engageable against its rearward wall portion andcentral wall portion only to form a slat panel joint, the groove havingoccupied walls defined by the engagement of the tongue along therearward wall portion and a portion of the central wall portion andunoccupied walls defined by a further portion of the central wallportion and the forward wall portion, the unoccupied walls of thegroove, a bottom of the forward wall portion on the adjacent body, thetongue and the forwardly projecting portion defining a first forwardlyopening article holder recess for accommodating and article holdertherein, adjacent forward wall portions being separated by a pluralityof second forwardly opening article holder recesses lying between theupper edge and the lower edge on each body, and adjacent rearward wallportions being separated by projecting ear recesses formed between theforward wall and rearward wall portions, the projecting ear recessesincluding a series of spaced, inverted, generally V-shapes notchesreceiving at least one mating projecting ear formed on a rigidlyanchored mounting member, the inverted V-shaped notches being spacedfrom the slat panel joint.
 30. The slatwall panel of claim 29, whereinthe body is formed with a plurality of material-saving voids, each voidbeing located above one of the inverted, V-shaped notches.
 31. Theslatwall panel of claim 29, wherein each of the article holder recessesis L-shaped.
 32. The slat panel of claim 29, wherein each of the grooveshas an inverted U-shape.
 33. In a slatwall display system having amounting member provided with projecting structure for mounting a seriesof slat panels together at slat panel joints, one atop another, theimprovement wherein:the projecting structure on the mounting member isdefined by a projecting ear formed with an upwardly projecting surface,the slat panels are formed with projecting recesses including a seriesof spaced invented V-shaped notches for receiving the ear, whereby theslat panels are supported on the projecting of the mounting member atlocations spaced from the slat panel joints.